Power Supply

Proposed Power Plant Project

Project Updates

Treasure Coast Energy Center Project Update 13
Aug. 9, 2007

Today marks the one-year anniversary of the groundbreaking for Treasure Coast Energy Center. The physical construction of the plant is nearing completion, and overall, the plant is slightly more than 50% complete. All major milestones remain on schedule, which include: 1) backfeed, 2) first fire, and 3) commercial operation. The plant is scheduled to begin backfeed in six weeks. Treasure Coast Energy Center will be powered by Florida Power and Light through the backfeed process to begin testing and running various systems. The plant's first fire is scheduled for January, and commercial operation is scheduled for May 1.

Stay Up to Date
FMPA desires an open and ongoing dialogue with interested community members. As always, if you have any comments, questions or suggestions concerning this project, you are welcome to contact us.

Treasure Coast Energy Center Project Update 12
March 6, 2007

A 189-ton combustion turbine generator was successfully delivered Feb. 23 to the Treasure Coast Energy Center power plant site near Fort Pierce. “The delivery of the combustion turbine is a major milestone for this power plant,” said FMPA General Manager and CEO Roger Fontes. “When the plant begins operation in May 2008, Treasure Coast Energy Center will provide reliable, cost-effective power to our growing communities in an efficient and environmentally friendly manner.” The General Electric 7FA combustion turbine was shipped by rail from Greenville, S.C. The turbine was lifted off the rail car and transferred to a Goldhofer trailer, which specializes in heavy load transportation. The trailer transported the generator to the site where it will be stored until additional equipment arrives. It will then be placed onto the plant’s foundation and prepared for final assembly. Construction on the $257.4 million project began in August 2006.

Treasure Coast Energy Center Project Update 11
January 31, 2007

Two important milestones were reached at the Treasure Coast Energy Center site last week. The preparation and placement for Unit 1's concrete base was completed last week. Approximately 105 truck loads of concrete and two concrete pumps were used to place 1,050 cubic years of concrete. Another milestone for the project was the arrival of heavy equipment. One of two step-up transformers arrived and will be transported to the site when the new heavy haul road is completed.

Treasure Coast Energy Center Project Update 10
August 11, 2006

FMPA Breaks Ground on New Power Plant
The Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA) broke ground Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2006 on the construction of a high-efficiency, natural gas-fired power plant in St. Lucie County, Fla., near the city of Fort Pierce. Construction of the $257.4 million project is expected to take two years, creating up to 300 construction jobs at the peak. Treasure Coast Energy Center Unit 1 is scheduled to begin operation in 2008, at which time it will employ 16 full-time operators.

Treasure Coast Energy Center Project Update 9
May 16, 2006

Governor and Cabinet Approve FMPA’s Power Plant for Construction
Florida Governor Jeb Bush and the Florida Cabinet, sitting as the Power Plant Siting Board, unanimously approved Florida Municipal Power Agency’s (FMPA) proposal to construct a natural gas-fired power plant in St. Lucie County, Fla., near the city of Fort Pierce. “This power plant is essential to supply the electric needs of our customers, so we appreciate the Siting Board’s approval and the approvals we received at the state and local levels,” said FMPA General Manager and CEO Roger Fontes. “Through the rigorous one-year approval process, we showed that this plant best serves the public’s interest by being the most cost-effective option with minimal environmental impact.”

Treasure Coast Energy Center Project Update 8
February 24, 2006

Construction Contract Awarded
FMPA awarded a contract to The Industrial Company (TIC) and Utility Engineering for engineering, procurement and construction of the Treasure Coast Energy Center. TIC and Utility Engineering were selected through a competitive request for proposal process. "Besides offering a very competitive bid, the TIC and Utility Engineering team impressed us with their specialized knowledge, solid performance guarantee and, most importantly, their focus on values that are shared by FMPA and its members. Like FMPA, TIC and Utility Engineering are committed to maximizing the positive impacts this project will have on the local community," said FMPA General Manager and CEO Roger Fontes.

Treasure Coast Energy Center Project Update 7
February 3, 2006

Upcoming Local Event
Land use and certification hearings for the Treasure Coast Energy Center will be held in Fort Pierce, Fla., on Wednesday, Feb. 8. The land use hearing will begin at 9 a.m., and the certification hearing will begin immediately following the land use hearing. For a map to the location, click here.

These hearings are the next steps in a multi-step state and local approval process prescribed by Florida's Power Plant Siting Act. FMPA will appear before Administrative Law Judge Donald R. Alexander to present information about the proposed project. After the hearing, Judge Alexander will prepare recommended orders and submit them to the Siting Board, which includes Florida Governor Jeb Bush and his cabinet, for a final decision.

Treasure Coast Energy Center Project Update 6
November 14, 2005

Project Receives Local Approval
The St. Lucie Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously Nov. 1 to grant FMPA a conditional use permit and major site plan approval for two units at the Treasure Coast Energy Center plant site. The site is already zoned for utilities. Receiving the county's approval is a major milestone in the multi-step licensing process.

FMPA Member Utilities Approve Project
The city-owned electric utilities that own and govern FMPA voted Nov. 2 to authorize the construction budget for Treasure Coast Energy Center Unit 1. This action gives FMPA the approval to finance and construct the project, as soon as all necessary licenses are obtained. It also affirms that FMPA's member utilities agree that constructing this plant is the best option to meet their customers' growing power needs.

Treasure Coast Energy Center Project Update 5
October 18, 2005

Upcoming Local Event
FMPA will address the St. Lucie County Planning and Zoning Board on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2005, in the St. Lucie County Commission Chambers at 6:00 p.m. For a map of the location, go to http://www.stlucieco.gov/maps/. The Planning and Zoning Board's hearing is the next step in a multi-step state and local approval process prescribed by Florida's Power Plant Siting Act. FMPA will be asking the Board for a conditional use permit and major site plan approval. The site is already zoned for utility purposes.

Treasure Coast Energy Center Project Update 4
September 13, 2005

Local Event Cancelled
A previous "Project Update" e-mail announced a hearing about the proposed Treasure Coast Energy Center at the St. Lucie County Planning and Zoning Board this week. That hearing has since been postponed until October. The new date will be announced as soon as it is officially assigned.

Treasure Coast Energy Center Project Update 3
September 8, 2005

Upcoming Local Event
FMPA will address the St. Lucie County Planning and Zoning Board on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2005, in the St. Lucie County Commission Chambers at 6:00 p.m. For a map of the location, go to http://www.stlucieco.gov/maps/. The Planning and Zoning Board's hearing is the next step in a multi-step state and local approval process prescribed by Florida's Power Plant Siting Act. FMPA will be asking the Board for a conditional use permit and major site plan approval. The site is already zoned for utility purposes.

Treasure Coast Energy Center Project Update 2
August 16, 2005

Project Milestone
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) issued a determination of need on July 27 for FMPA's proposed Treasure Coast Energy Center Unit 1. The PSC's approval is the first step in a multi-step state and local approval process prescribed by Florida's Power Plant Siting Act.

In this decision, the PSC acknowledged that additional electric generation is needed to supply the growing energy needs of Florida's Treasure Coast region and communities throughout Florida. The Commission also verified that FMPA's investigation of power supply alternatives was rigorous and thorough, and it concluded that FMPA's proposal is the most economical option to fill its customers' power needs.

A copy of the determination of need is posted on the PSC's Web site at http://www.psc.state.fl.us/library//FILINGS/05/07150-05/07150-05.PDF. The linked document is in Adobe PDF format.

Upcoming Event
FMPA will soon address the St. Lucie County Planning and Zoning Board, the next step in the approval process. FMPA will be asking the Board for a conditional use permit and major site plan approval. The site is already zoned for utility purposes. The meeting has not been scheduled yet, but the date will be announced in a future Project Update, when it is known.

Stay Up to Date
FMPA desires an open and ongoing dialogue with interested community members. Sign up to receive future Project Updates by sending an e-mail to treasurecoastenergycenter@fmpa.com or calling us at 1-888-774-7606.

Treasure Coast Energy Center: Project Update 1
May 27, 2005

The purpose of this update is to make you aware of two opportunities to obtain more information about the project.

First, following our announcement of the project on May 6, we received some questions from individuals about the project, and we responded to those inquiries. Thinking that other local citizens may have similar questions, we decided to post the questions and answers on FMPA’s Web page. If you are interested, please see the link below:

http://www.fmpa.com/html/power_supply/qa.html

The second information opportunity is a local meeting that will be held with the White City Improvement Club. The meeting is scheduled for June 2, 2005, beginning at 7 p.m. The Club is located at 1006 West Midway Road in Fort Pierce. Members of the public are welcome. The meeting will have an "open house" format, where representatives of the project will share information and answer questions one-on-one with attendees.

Sign up to receive future Project Updates by sending an e-mail to treasurecoastenergycenter@fmpa.com or calling us at 1-888-774-7606.